National Digital Communications Policy 2018

The new National Digital Communications Policy - 2018 has been formulated, in place of the existing National Telecom Policy-2012, to cater to the modern needs of the digital communications sector of India.

Key Objectives of the Policy

• Broadband for all;
• Creating four million additional jobs in the Digital Communications sector;
• Enhancing the contribution of the Digital Communications sector to 8% of India’s GDP from ~ 6% in 2017;
• Propelling India to the Top 50 Nations in the ICT Development Index of ITU from 134 in 2017;
• Enhancing India’s contribution to Global Value Chains; and
• Ensuring Digital Sovereignty.
• These objectives are to be achieved by 2022.

The Policy Advocates for

Establishment of a National Digital Grid by creating a National Fibre Authority;

• Establishing Common Service Ducts and utility corridors in all new city and highway road projects;
• Creating a collaborative institutional mechanism between Centre, States and Local Bodies for Common Rights of Way, standardization of costs and timelines;
• Removal of barriers to approvals; and
• Facilitating development of Open Access Next Generation Networks.